Bioenergy technology roadmap for Colombia

The roadmap proposes two visions for Colombia's bioenergy sector: one focusing on new technologies (biomethane and biomass-based power/CHP) and another combining these with the expansion of first-generation biofuels. Modeling indicates that while both scenarios increase the bioenergy share in power and gas supply, they cannot prevent an overall decline in bioenergy's share of primary energy demand due to rapid GDP growth and urbanization. The most effective emissions reductions come from power generation and CHP, particularly by avoiding methane release from landfills and animal waste. Scenario I is identified as the most efficient in terms of emissions reduction per additional hectare of land, whereas Scenario II's ambitious biofuel targets would require significant imports as domestic land is insufficient.

• The roadmap defines two primary visions: Scenario I focuses on "new technologies and targets their deployment for the production of biomethane, biomass-based power generation and combined-heat-and-power (CHP)", while Scenario II "combines new and traditional technologies" including the growth of first-generation biofuels.
• Long-term goals for transport biofuels in Scenario II include increasing the biodiesel quota mandate to "B20 in 2020 and B30 in 2030", increasing the bioethanol mandate to "E20 in 2025", and implementing an "E85 fuel program in 2030".
• Targets for biomethane and power generation include using "5% of biomass residues and 1% animal waste" for biomethane by 2030, and achieving a "renewable power target of 10% by 2025".
• Scenario I results in domestic bioenergy-induced emissions reductions of approximately "11.4 mio ton CO2-eq." and fossil fuel savings of "1.9 mio TOE".
• Scenario II achieves higher total reductions, with domestic bioenergy-induced emissions reductions of "20.3 mio ton CO2" and fossil fuel savings of "4.6" mio TOE.
• Scenario I is the most land-efficient, offering the highest emissions reduction per additional hectare of land at "nearly 150 tons of CO2-eq. per additional ha".
• The most effective policy for GHG reduction is power generation and CHP, which accounts for "more than 50% in emission reductions" in both scenarios, primarily by "avoiding methane release via landfill gas and biogas from animal waste/wastewater".
• Domestic land is insufficient to meet Scenario II's biofuel goals; by 2030, imports of bioethanol could account for "more than 70% of the demand" and biodiesel imports could reach "60% of the demand".
• The roadmap identifies significant regulatory barriers, including the "lack of a centralized and consolidated authority issuing regulations" for biofuels and the absence of an "attractive pricing scheme" for distributed power generation.
• Technological barriers for bioethanol include the fact that "70% of the cane fields are burned before harvesting", which wastes residues that could be used for power generation.
• The report suggests a sustainability scheme requiring a minimum GHG savings of "40% relative to fossil fuels in 2015, 50% in 2020 and 60% in 2025" for both biofuels and biomass-to-electricity conversion.

APA

Salazar, M. A. G., Venturini, M., Poganietz, W.-R., Finkenrath, M., Kirsten, T., & Acevedo, H. (2014). Bioenergy technology roadmap for Colombia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://leap.sei.org/documents/Bioenergy_technology_roadmap_for_Colombia.pdf

Chicago

Salazar, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Mauro Venturini, Witold-Roger Poganietz, Matthias Finkenrath, Trevor Kirsten, and Helmer Acevedo. Bioenergy technology roadmap for Colombia. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2014. https://leap.sei.org/documents/Bioenergy_technology_roadmap_for_Colombia.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Salazar |first1=Miguel Angel Gonzalez |last2=Venturini |first2=Mauro |last3=Poganietz |first3=Witold-Roger |last4=Finkenrath |first4=Matthias |last5=Kirsten |first5=Trevor |last6=Acevedo |first6=Helmer |title=Bioenergy technology roadmap for Colombia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2014 |url=https://leap.sei.org/documents/Bioenergy_technology_roadmap_for_Colombia.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{salazar2014bioenergy, author = {Salazar, Miguel Angel Gonzalez and Venturini, Mauro and Poganietz, Witold-Roger and Finkenrath, Matthias and Kirsten, Trevor and Acevedo, Helmer}, title = {{Bioenergy technology roadmap for Colombia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2014}, url = {https://leap.sei.org/documents/Bioenergy_technology_roadmap_for_Colombia.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }